Crystal River current., 1887-05-14
ONE JULY AFTERNOON.

across the room. "If you've any
thing to send. get it ready. quick"
There's butter and eggs" answered
his wife. But was thinking"
DWELL, get it ready, then. wouldn't
go, but bob's broke the rake, and it's
got to be fixed; and we have the rest
OF that hay to be put in before night;
and it looks like rain, too. I'll be
around in five minutes and don't
want to have to wait. Put the eggs
in bran as / am going fast, and fix
the butter up right away" And he
turned and walked few steps, then
paused and called, "Ms,ke out a list
of what you really need, too"
II wish l could have gone!" sighed
Mrs. Harris, loud enough for her hus-
band to hear. lie frowned dismally.
oh yes, that's the way! What on
earth do you want to go to town for?
It'll take you till sundo own to get ready,
and the baby'd squall all the time.
Can't get everything"
"Oii, yes, l suppose, know 1 can't
go; I've enough to do here, but l
thought, perhaps" She paused, and
her husband, as if waiting for the
pause, turned and walked quickly
away. Mrs. Harris thoughts were
busy enough as she FASTENED to the
cellar. ooh, dear" she sighed, 81 do
want q calico dress out OF this butter
hn ttvn re
a pound much longer. I'm afraid
VIII won't get it if ask him, but it
seems as if could wear this no long
er it's so warm"
And she looked down at the faded
blue worsted that had been her best
once, but which had been worn all
winter and until now-July-nearly
all the time. 1t was very warm look
ing dress, and on this afternoon
her flaming cheeks and moist
features did not need much to
assert how uncomfortable she was
for the day was very warm.
She was interrupted with an emphatic
whoa, now" from without before
the butter was quite ready. The ba-
by above, awakened by his fathers
loud voice, set up loud scream, and
the same voice came down to the ner-
vous woman in impatient accents.
MARY Jane? 1t does seem as if
women are getting awful slow. l could
have done three times what you have
in this time" he added, as she came
up from the cellar with q heavy three
gallon jar in her arms. He sat in the
spring wagon composedly as She placed
the butter in, and watched hergo back
for and fetch the large basket OF eggs
Now what do you need?" he asked,
gathering up the lines.
She told him quietly, and then ner-
vously glancing into his face, she add
ed:
"a guess shere'll be enough left for
some Calico
He looked amazed.
Calico! Did | ever! What's that
for?"
me dress"
Did her face look teariul2 It was
unnoticed.
"a dressl Why, you don't need a
dress; you We got a dozen. What ails
that one? That'lTlast q year yet"
cts SO warm, Will, it nearly makes
mo sick to wear it. II had calico
Just a cheap one; ten yards will do
Il could put this away for winter
again."
40 nonsense Where's all that
gingham you got?''
She glanced at his own garments.
part OF it is on your own shoulders,
and the rest was used the same way
or you and the children"
lie made no reply, except to CHR
rup to the horses and begin to turn
the wagon round. Then, catching a
glimpse OF her face. something of his
better nature flor he was not a bad
man at heart) stirred within him,
and he said:
well, I'll see; may be I can get it;
and if I'd known I'd be this late star t.
ing, you might have gone; though l
don't see why you wanted to go, for
taIn't been three months since you
went to town and stayed half the ait
ernoon. Get up, Charliel' And he
was soon out OF sight in o cloud OF
dust.
Mrs. Harris felt like sitting down on
the shady doorstep as she turned to
GO in, but she knew she could not.
The baby had tired itself out crying,
and was just lying sobbing in the
cradle. The dinner-table was just as
they left it, and that must be done be-
fore supper. She gave IL glance to-
wards the green trees and white tomb
stones of the graveyard close
by, and Suppressed quickly the
bitter eigh that arose at the
thoughts OF threa little graves oyor
tksye Nhieh hsls her pAprsa dust, Che